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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^ 


A. 


&p 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
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which  may  alter  any  of  the  imag9s  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


n 


n 

D 

n 


n 


□ 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagee 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

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mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
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Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


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Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculees 


I      I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 
D 


D 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^color^es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
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Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


y 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


24X 


28X 


n 

32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of  : 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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of  fie  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


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beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  m^ny  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  d  la 
gAn6rosit6  de: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netteti  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  fiimd  d  partir 
de  I'angle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mtthode. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


;    1    :; 

t 

• 

4 

6 

6 

rece 

the 

mar 

tlie 

c.ld 

wak 

man 

sut'ft 

like 

othe 

colli] 

liors 

of  tl 

men, 

the  I 

a  imi 

Wah 

(litCic 

expe 

the  t 

iiei;j;l 

our  t 

for  s( 

I   imi 

ahoui 

order 

cross 

few  c 

lind  ( 


OIH   ,f»OUtl]    llfclflftS. 


N  ..    ,: 


The  Capture  of 

Vincennes. 

1779. 

BY    GEORGE    ROGERS    CLARK. 


Fki>\i   (iiNi.KAi,  (i.akk's  Mf-:M()IRS. 

"  Everythini;^  bein,:;  ready,  on  the  5tli  (if  I'fhruai  \'.  after 
receiving  a  lecture  and  absolution  from  the  priest,  we  crossed 
the  Kaskaskia  l\i\er  with  one  hundred  and  >e\ent\'  men. 
marched  about  three  miles  and  encani[)e(l.  where  we  lay  until 
the  [ythj,  and  set  out.  The  weather  wet  (but  fortunatel)  n^i 
cold  for  the  season)  and  a  ^reat  i)art  of  the  plains  under 
water  sex'eral  inches  deej).  It  was  ditricult  and  \ery  fati-uiuL;' 
marching-.  My  object  was  now  to  keep  the  men  in  spirits.  I 
suffered  them  to  shoot  game  on  all  occasions,  and  feast  on  it 
like  Indian  war-dancers,  each  companN  1)\'  turns  in\iting  the 
others  to  their  fi'asts.  which  was  the  case  e\er}-  night.  a>  the 
company  that  wa>  to  gi\e  the  f>.ast  was  alwa\s  supplied  with 
horses  to  lay  u\^  a  sutTicient  store  of  wild  meat  in  the  course 
of  the  dav.  myself  and  principal  officers  putting  on  the  woods- 
men, shouting  now  and  then,  and  miming  as  much  through 
the  nuid  and  water  as  any  of  them.  Thus,  insensibly,  without 
a  murmur,  were  those  men  led  on  to  the  banks  of  the  lattle 
Wabash,  which  we  reached  on  the  i.^th.  through  incredible 
diflicullies.  far  sur[)assing  :i!i\thing  that  an\-  of  us  had  e\er 
experieneed.  frequentK'  the  dixersions  of  the  lUght  wore  off 
the  thoughts  of  the  preceding  da\-.  We  foiined  a  camp  on  a 
height  which  we  found  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  suffeied 
our  troojis  to  amuse  themsehes.  1  viewed  this  sheet  of  w.iter 
for  some  time  with  tlistrust  ;  but.  accusing  nnself  of  doubting. 
1  immediately  set  to  work.  withtnU  holding  any  con->ultation 
about  it,  or  suffering  an\!)ody  else  to  do  so  in  my  |)iesenee; 
ordered  a  pirogue  to  be  built  iirimediately,  and  acted  as  tlKuigh 
crossing  the  water  would  be  only  a  piece  of  diversion.  .\s  but 
few  could  work  at  the  pirogue  at  a  time,  pains  were  taken  to 
fuul  diversion  for  the  rest  to  keep  them  in  high  spirits.   .   ,  . 


In  the  evening  of  the  141!.,  our  vessel  was  finished,  manned, 
and  sent  to  explore  the  drowned  lands  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  Little  Wabash,  with  private  instructions  what  report  to 
niaki.-,  and.  if  possible,  to  find  some  spot  of  dry  land.  'I'hey 
found  abmit  half  an  acre,  and  marked  the  trees  from  thence 
back  to  the  camp,  and  made  a  very  favorable  re|)ort. 

•■  fortunately,  the  13th  hapjiened  to  be  a  warm,  moist  day 
for  the  season.  The  channel  of  the  ri\er  where  we  lay  wa-^ 
about  thirty  \ards  wide.  .\  scaffold  was  budt  on  the  opposite 
shore  (which  was  about  three  feet  under  water),  and  our  bag- 
tjaijje  ferried  across,  and  put  on  it.  Our  lK)rses  swam  across, 
and  recei\ed  their  loads  at  the  scaffold,  bv  which  time  the 
(rcjops  were  also  brought  across,  and  we  began  our  march 
through  the  water.  ... 

"  I5y  evening  we  found  ourselves  encamped  on  a  pretty  height, 
in  high  sjiirits.  each  jiarty  laughing  at  the  other,  in  consequence 
of  something  that  had  hai:)pencd  in  the  course  of  this  ferr_\  ing 
business,  as  they  called  it.  A  little  antic  drummer  afforded 
them  great  di\'ersion  by  floating  on  his  dinm,  etc.  All  this 
was  greatlv  encouraged  ;  and  ihe\-  reall\- began  to  think  them- 
selves  sui)erior  to  other  men,  and  that  neither  the  rivers  nor 
the  seasons  could  stop  their  progress.  Their  whole  conversation 
now  was  concerning  what  they  would  do  when  they  got  about 
the  eiieniw  Thev  now  liegan  to  x'.evv  the  main  Wabash  as  a 
creek,  aiul  made  no  doubt  but  such  men  as  they  were  couUl 
iind  a  way  to  cross  it.  TJiey  wound  themseUes  up  to  such  a 
pitch  that  they  soon  took  I'ost  \'incennes,  divided  the  spoil, 
and  before  bedtime  were  far  advanced  on  their  route  to  De- 
troit. All  this  was.  no  doubt,  pleasing  to  those  of  us  who  had 
luore  serious  thoughts.  .  .  .  We  were  now  convinced  that  the 
whole  of  the  low  country  on  the  Wabash  was  drowned,  and 
that  the  enemy  could  easily  get  to  us.  if  they  discovered  us, 
and  wished  to  risk  an  action  ;  if  they  did  not,  we  made  no 
doubt  of  crossing  the  river  by  some  means  or  other.  Even  if 
Captain  Rogers,  with  our  galley,  did  not  get  to  his  station 
agreeable  to  iiis  appointment,  we  flattered  ourselves  that  all 
would  be  well,  and  marched  on  in  liigh  spirits.  .  .  . 

■'  I'he  last  day's  march  through  the  water  was  far  superior  to 
anything  the  Frenchmen  had  an  idea  of.  They  were  backward 
in  speaking;  said  that  the  nearest  land  to  us  was  a  sr.iall 
league  called  the  Sugar  Camp,  on  the  bank  of  the  [river?]  A 
canoe  was  sent  off,  and  returned  without  finding  that  we  could 
pass.  I  went  in  her  myself,  and  sounded  the  water;  found  it 
cieep  as  to  my  neck.     I  returned  with  a  design  to  have  the  men 


>:   * 


t^an^l)^)^tc(l  (tn  board  liie  canoes  t**  the  Sn;;ar  Camp,  wliirli  I 
knew  Would  spend  the  whcjle  day  and  ensuinj;  ni_L;ht.  .i^  the 
\e>>i'ls  Would  pass  slowly  throu<;h  the  l)ushes.  The  loss  of  so 
niueh  time,  to  men  half-starved,  was  a  matter  of  conse(|Uince. 
I  would  have  Ljiven  now  a  ^reat  deal  for  a  day's  provision  or 
foi  one  of  our  horses.  I  returned  hut  slowly  to  the  troops. 
_t;i\ini;'  m\self  tinie  to  think.  (  )n  our  arrival,  all  r.m  to  hear 
what  was  the  report.  I'.xery  eye  was  tixed  on  me.  1  unfortu 
natelv  spoke  in  a  seriou.s  manner  to  one  of  the  olTicers.  'I'he 
whole  were  alarmed  without  knowini;  what  1  said.  1  \  iewed 
their  Confusion  for  about  one  minute,  wjiis|)ered  to  th  )se  neai 
me  to  do  as  I  did:  innnediatt^ly  put  some  water  in  my  hand, 
poured  on  powder,  bhickened  my  face.  L;a\e  the  war-wliooj),  and 
marched  into  the  water  without  sayinj;  a  word.  The  party 
^azed,  and  fell  in.  one  after  another,  without  sayin;;  a  worcl. 
like  a  llock  of  sheep.  1  ordered  those  ne.ir  me  to  l)e|;in  a 
f.norite  sonLj  of  theirs.  It  soon  passed  throui;h  the  line,  and 
the  whole  went  (ju  cheerfully.  I  now  intended  to  have  them 
transported  across  the  dee|)est  part  of  the  water:  but.  wiu-n 
aliout  waist  deep,  one  of  the  men  informed  me  that  he  thou-ht 
Jie  felt  a  path.  We  examined,  and  found  it  so.  and  concluded 
that  it  ke|)t  on  the  hi;j;hest  j^round.  which  it  did;  and,  by 
takinj;  pains  to  folhnv  it,  we  g(jt  to  the  Su_L;ar  Camp  vvithout 
the  least  diflicnltv,  where  there  was  about  half  an  acre  of  drv 
ground,  at  least  not  under  water,  where  wi'  took  up  our  lod^- 
ins;.  Tiie  l'""enchmen  that  we  had  taken  on  the  river  apjieared 
to  be  uneasy  at  our  situation.  They  be-^i^ed  that  they  mi^ht 
be  jiermitted  to  i;o  in  the  two  canoes  to  town  in  the  ni;i,lit. 
Thev  said  that  tliey  would  brinu;  from  their  own  houses  pro- 
\  isions,  without  a  possibility  of  any  persons  knowiuL;  it ;  that 
some  of  our  men  should  go  with  them  as  a  suretv  of  theit 
good  conduct ;  that  it  was  impossible  we  could  march  from 
that  place  till  the  water  fell,  for  the  plain  was  too  deep  to 
march.  Some  of  the  [officers  ?]  believed  that  it  might  be  done. 
I  would  not  suffer  it.  I  never  could  well  account  for  this  piece 
of  obstinacy,  and  give  satisfactory  reasons  to  myself  or  any- 
bodv  else  why  I  denied  a  proposition  ai)j:)arently  so  easy  to 
execute  and  of  so  much  advantage;  but  something  seemed  to 
tell  me  that  it  should  not  be  done,  and  it  was  not  done. 

"The  most  of  the  weather  that  we  had  on  this  march  was 
m  >ist  and  warm  for  the  season.  'J'iiis  was  the  coldest  night 
wc  had.  The  ice,  in  the  morning,  was  from  one-half  to  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  thick  near  the  shores  and  in  still  water, 
'ihe   mornin;;  was  the  finest  we  had  on  our  march.     A  little 


after  siinrisL'  1  Icctuicd  the  wliolc.  Wliat  I  >>aicl  to  them  I 
foi-el.  I)iit  it  111. I)-  1)0  easily  iinaL;ine(l  h)  a  peisnii  that  could 
possess  my  alVeclions  for  them  at  that  time.  I  coiu  hided  1)\' 
informiii^j  tliem  that  ])assin<j;  the  phiin  that  was  then  in  full 
\  iew  and  reacliini;  the  opposite  woods  would  put  an  end  to 
their  tatiuue.  that  in  a  few  Imurs  tlie\-  would  h.i\e  a  si-dit  ot 
their  loni;-\\islie(l  for  object,  and  immediately  stepped  into  the 
water  without  waitini^  for  any  rej)!)-.  A  hux/a  took  place.  As 
wt'  :;enerall}-  marched  throu_:;h  tlie  watcM"  in  a  line,  before  the 
third  entered  I  halted,  and  called  to  Major  Jlow  man.  ordering; 
him  to  fall  in  the  rear  with  t\venty-ti\e  men,  anil  |)ut  to  tlealh 
an\-  man  who  refused  to  march,  as  we  wished  to  have  no  such 
person  among  us.      I'he  whole  gave  a  cry  (A  a[)probation.  and 


on   w 


e  went.     This  was  the  most  trNing  of  all   the  dil'ticulti 


es 


we  had  experieiu  I'd.  1  generally  kept  lifteen  or  twenty  of  the 
stroniiest  men  lu-.xt  m\self.  and  judLred  from  mv  own  feelinirs 
what  must  be  that  of  others.  ( 'letting  about  the  middle  of  the 
plain,  the  water  about  mid  deej),  I  found  in\self  sensibly  fail- 
ing ;  and,  as  there  were  no  trees  nor  bushes  for  the  men  to  sup- 
port tliemsehes  by.  1  feared  that  many  of  the  most  weak  would 
1)e  drowned.  I  onlered  the  canoes  to  make  the  land,  discharge 
their  loading,  and  pla\'  backward  and  forward  with  all  dili- 
gence, and  jiick  up  the  men  :  and.  to  encourage  the  party,  sent 
some  of  the  strongest  men  forward,  with  orders,  when  tiicy  got 
to  a  certain  distance,  to  pass  the  word  back  that  the  water  was 
getting  shallow,  and  when  getting  near  the  wocnis  to  cry  out. 
This  stratagem  had  it.-,  desired  effect.     The  men.  en- 


•  Land  '. 

couraiTed  bv  it.  exerted  themselves  almost  bevond  their  abili- 

.    The  water  never 


ties;  the  weak  holding  by  the  stronger, 
got  shallower,  but  continued  deepening.  (letting  to  the  woods, 
where  the  men  expected  hind,  the  water  was  up  to  my  shoul- 
der.s  ;  but  gaining  the  woods  was  of  great  conseciuence.  .All  the 
low  men  and  the  weakly  hung  to  the  trees,  and  floated  on  the 
old  logs  until  the\'  were  taken  off  by  the  canoes.  The  strong 
and  tall  got  ashore  and  built  tires.  Many  would  reach  the 
shore,  and  fall  with  their  bodies  half  in  the  water,  not  being 
able  to  support  themseK'es  without  it. 


This  was    a    delightful   dry  spot  of   ground  of    about    tet 


acres. 


W" 


e    soon 


found   that   the  iires  answered 


no  purpose. 


Init  that  two  strong  men  taking  a  weaker  one  b\'  the  arms  was 
the  only  wav  to  reco\er  him  ;  and,  being  a  deliirhtful  dav,  it 
soon  did.  lint,  fortunately,  as  if  designed  by  I'rovidence,  a 
canoe  of  Indian  scpiaws  and  children  was  coming  up  to  town, 
and  took  through  part  of   this  plain  as   a  nigh  wa\-.     It  was 


ing 


ini; 


5 


discovered  by  our  canoes  as  they  were  out  after  the  men. 
They  gave  chase,  and  took  the  Indian  canoe,  on  board  of  which 
was  near  half  a  quarter  of  a  buffalo,  some  -  )rn.  tallow,  kettles, 
etc.  This  was  a  grand  prize,  and  was  invaluable.  IJroth  was 
immediately  made,  and  served  out  to  the  most  weakly  with 
great  care.  Most  of  the  whole  got  a  little;  but  a  great  many 
gave  their  part  to  the  weakly,  jocosely  saying  something  cheer- 
ing to  their  comrades.  This  little  refreshment  and  line 
weather  by  the  afternoon  gave  new  life  to  the  whole.  Crossing 
a  narrow  deep  lake  in  the  canoes,  and  marching  some  distance, 
we  came  to  a  copse  of  timber  called  the  \Varrior's  Island. 
We  were  now  in  full  view  of  the  fort  and  town,  not  a  shrub 
between  us,  at  about  two  miles'  distance.  Every  man  now 
feasted  his  eyes,  and  forgot  that  he  had  suffered  anything,  say- 
ing that  all  that  had  passed  was  owing  to  good  policy  and 
nothing  but  what  a  man  could  bear ;  and  that  a  soldier  had  no 
right  to  think,  etc., —  passing  from  one  extreme  to  another, 
which  is  common  in  such  cases.  It  was  now  we  had  to  display 
our  abilities.  The  plain  between  us  and  the  town  was  not  a 
perfect  level.  The  sunken  grounds  were  covered  with  water 
full  of  ducks.  We  observed  several  men  out  on  horseback, 
shooting  them,  within  a  half  mile  of  us,  and  sent  out  as  many 
of  our  active  young  Frenchmen  to  decoy  and  take  one  of  these 
men  prisoner  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  alarm  the  others, 
which  they  did.  The  information  we  got  from  this  person  was 
similar  to  that  which  we  got  from  those  we  took  on  the  river, 
except  that  of  the  British  having  that  evening  completed  the 
wall  of  the  fort,  and  that  there  were  a  good  many  Indians  in 
town. 

"Our  situation  was  now  truly  critical, —  no  possibility  of 
retreating  in  case  of  defeat,  and  in  full  view  of  a  town  that 
had,  at  this  time,  upward  of  six  hundred  men  in  it, —  troops, 
inhabitants,  and  Indians.  The  crew  of  the  galley,  though  not 
lifty  men,  would  have  been  now  a  re-enforcement  of  immense 
magnitude  to  our  little  army  (if  I  may  so  call  it),  but  we 
would  not  think  of  them.  We  were  now  in  the  situation  that 
1  had  labored  to  get  ourselves  in.  The  idea  of  being  made 
prisoner  was  foreign  to  almost  every  man,  as  they  expected 
nothing  but  torture  from  the  savages,  if  they  fell  into  their 
hands.  Our  fate  was  now  to  be  determined,  probably  in  a  few 
hours.  We  knew  that  nothing  but  the  most  daring  conduct 
would  insure  success.  I  knew  that  a  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants wished  us  well,  that  many  were  lukewarm  to  the  interest 
of  either,  and  I  also  learned  that  the  grand  chief,  the  Tobacco's 


Soil,  li;ul  l)iit  .1  l'i.'\v  (lays  before  openly  declared,  in  council  with 
the  iJritisIi,  that  lie  was  a  brother  and  friend  to  the  \'>\'^  Knives. 
'I'hese  were  favorable  circumstances;  and,  as  there  was  but 
little  probability  of  our  remaining  until  dark  undiscovered.  I 
determined  to  hc'/\u  the  career  immediately,  and  wrote  the 
following  placard  to  the  inhabitants:  — 

"'To  nil.  J.\ii.\i;ii.\.\  IS  ()!•    I'osi    \iN(  i.v.NKs  : 

"' 6V// //(•;//<//. —  iSein^  now  within  two  miles  of  your  villa^^e. 
with  my  army,  determined  to  take  your  fort  this  night,  and 
not  beinjf  willing  to  surprise  you,  i  take  this  method  to  re(iuesi 
such  of  you  as  are  true  citizens  and  willing  to  enjoy  the  libert\ 
I  bring  you  to  remain  .still  in  your  houses;  and  those,  if  an\ 
there  be,  that  are  friends  to  the  king  will  instantly  repair  to 
the  fort,  and  join  the  hairl)u\er  general,  and  tight  like  men. 
And,  if  any  such  as  do  not  go  to  the  fort  shall  l)e  discovereil 
afterward,  they  may  de])end  on  severe  punishment.  On  the 
contrary,  those  who  are  true  fiiends  to  liberty  may  depend  on 
being  well  treated;  and  I  once  more  re(|uest  them  to  keep  out 
of  the  streets,  l-'or  every  one  I  find  in  arms  on  my  arrival  I 
shall  treat  him  as  an  enemy. 

•"(.Signed;  G.   R.  CLARK. 


prop 

and 
they 
the 
mere 

Such 

must 

in  fill 

sequi 

in  lea 

marcl 

raisin 

the  bi 

with  1 

displa 

marcji 

risin;:.'- 


"  I  had  various  ideas  on  tlie  supposed  results  of  this  letter. 
I  knew  that  it  could  do  us  no  damage,  but  that  it  would  causc 
the  lukewarm  to  be  decided,  encourage  our  friends,  and  aston- 
ish our  enemies.  .  .  .  We  anxiously  viewed  this  messenger 
until  he  entered  the  town,  and  in  a  few  minutes  could  discover 
by  our  glasses  some  stir  in  e\ery  street  that  we  could  penetrate 
into,  and  great  numbers  running  or  riding  out  into  the  com- 
mons, we  su|)p(jsed,  to  view  us.  which  was  the  case.  lUil  whal 
sur|)rised  us  was  that  nothing  had  yet  happened  that  had  thi' 
appearance  of  the  garrison  being  alarmed. —  no  drum  nor  gun. 
We  began  to  suppose  that  the  information  we  got  from  oiu" 
prisoners  was  false,  and  that  the  enemy  already  knew  of  us. 

and  were  prepared \   little  before  sunset  we  moved,  and 

displayed  ourselves  in  full  \iew  of  the  town,  crowds  gazing 
at  us.  We  were  plunging  ourselves  into  certain  destruction 
or  success.  There  was  no  midway  thought  of.  We  had  but 
little  to  say  to  our  men.  e.xcept  inculcating  an  idea  of  tht 
necessity  of  obedience,  etc.  We  knew  they  did  not  want  en 
couraging,  and  that  anything  might  be  attempted  with  them 
that  was  possible  for  such  a  number, —  perfectly  cool,   under 


■'"Ifc- 


proper  subordination,  pleased  with  the  prospect  ht  fore  tluiu. 
and  imich  allachcd  to  their  officers.  They  all  declared  tliai 
they  were  convinced  that  an  implicit  obeihence  to  orders  ua-^ 
the  only  thing  that  would  insure  success,  and  hoped  that  no 
mercy  would  l)e  shown  the  person  that  should  violate  tliein. 
Such  lan^ua'j;e  as  this  from  soldiers  to  persons  in  our  station 
must  have  been  e.\ceedin^l\-  agreeable.  \\ C  mo\ed  on  slowl}' 
in  full  view  of  the  town;  but,  as  it  was  a  pi>int  of  some  coti- 
secpience  to  us  to  make  ourselves  appear  as  formidable,  we, 
in  leaving;  the  covi  ri  that  we  were  in.  marched  aiul  countei 
marched  in  such  a  manner  that  we  appeared  numerous.  In 
raising  volunteers  in  the  Illinois,  every  person  that  set  about 
the  business  had  a  set  of  colors  given  him,  which  they  brought 
with  them  to  tiie  amount  of  ten  or  twehe  pairs.  These  werr 
displayed  to  tiie  best  achantage;  and,  as  the  low  plain  wc 
marched  through  was  not  a  perfect  level,  but  had  fretpient 
risings  in  it  seven  or  eight  feet  higher  than  the  common 
level  (which  was  covered  with  water),  and  as  these  rising>> 
generally  run  in  an  oblicpie  direction  to  the  town,  we  took  tlic 
advantage  of  one  of  them,  marching  through  the  water  inuier 
it,  which  completely  i)revented  our  being  numbered.  l!ut  our 
colors  showed  considerablv  abo\e  tiie  heights,  as  thev  were 
li.xed  on  long  poles  procured  for  the  pur|)ose,  and  at  a  distance 
made  no  despicable  appearance;  and,  as  our  young  l-'renchmen 
had.  while  we  lay  on  the  Warrior's  Island,  (leco}ed  and  taken 
several  fowlers  with  their  horses,  officers  were  mounted  on 
these  horses,  and  rode  about,  more  completelx'  to  decei\e  the 
enemy.  In  this  manner  we  moved,  and  directed  our  march  in 
such  a  way  as  to  suffer  it  to  be  dark  before  we  had  advanced 
more  than  half-wav  to  the  town.  We  then  suddenlv  altered 
our  direction,  and  crossed  jionds  where  the\'  could  not  ha\e 
suspected  us,  and  about  eight  o'clock  g;iined  the  heights  back 
of  the  tcjwn.  As  there  was  yet  no  hostile  appearance,  we  were 
impatient  to  have  the  cause  uririddled.  Lieutenant  Hayley  was 
ordered,  with  fourteen  men.  to  march  and  fire  on  the  fort 
The  main  body  moved  in  a  dilTerent  direction,  and  took  [los- 
session  of  the  strongest  part  of  the  town. 

"The  firing  now  commenced  on  the  fort,  but  they  did  not 
believe  it  was  an  enemv  until  one  of  their  men  was  shot  down 
through  a  port,  as  drunken  Indians  frecpiently  saluted  the  fort 
after  night.  The  drums  now  sounded,  and  the  business  fairly 
i;omnienced  on  both  sides.  Re-enforcements  were  sent  to  the 
attack  of  the  garrison,  while  other  arrangements  were  making 
in    town.  ,  .  .  We  now  found    that   the   (rarrison    had    known 


tiolhiti};  of  us;  that,  having  I'lnished  the  fort  that  evening',  they 
had  anuised  themselves  at  different  games,  and  had  just  re- 
tired before  my  letter  arrived,  as  it  was  near  roll-call.  Tiu 
placard  beinj;  made  public,  many  of  the  inhabitants  were  afraid 
to  show  themselves  out  of  the  houses  for  fear  of  giving  offence, 
and  not  (;ne  tiare  give  information.  Our  friends  flew  to  the 
connuons  and  other  convenient  places  to  view  the  pleasin;^ 
sight.  This  was  observed  from  the  garrison,  and  the  reason 
asked,  but  a  satisfactory  excuse  was  given ;  and,  as  a  part  of 
the  town  lay  between  our  line  of  march  and  the  garrison.  \\v 
c(Hdd  not  be  seen  by  the  sentinels  on  the  walls.  C'a|)tain  VV. 
Shannon  and  another  being  some  time  before  taken  prisoners 
by  one  of  their  [scouting  i)arties|,  and  that  evening  brought  in, 
the  jiarty  had  discoverecl  at  the  Sugar  Camp  some  signs  of  us. 
TIk'v  supposed  it  to  be  a  jiarty  of  observation  that  intended 
to  land  on  the  height  some  distance  below  the  town.  Captain 
J.amotte  was  sent  to  intercept  them.  It  was  at  him  the  people 
said  they  were  looking,  when  they  were  asked  the  reason  of 
their  unusual  stir.  Several  suspected  persons  had  been  taken 
to  the  garrison;  among  them  was  Mr.  Moses  flenry.  Mrs. 
Henry  went,  under  the  pretense  of  carrying  him  provisions, 
and  whispered  him  the  news  and  what  she  had  seen.  Mr. 
Henry  conveyed  it  to  the  rest  of  his  fellow-prisoners,  which 
gave  them  much  pleasure,  particularly  Captain  Helm,  who 
amused  himself  very  much  during  the  siege,  and,  1  believe,  did 
iiuich  damage. 

"Ammunition  was  scarce  with  us,  as  the  most  of  our  stores 
had  been  put  on  board  of  the  galley.  'I'hough  her  crew  was 
but  few,  such  a  re-enforcement  to  us  at  this  time  would  have 
been  invaluable  in  many  instances.  J^ut,  fortunately,  at  the 
time  of  its  being  reported  that  the  whole  of  the  goods  in  the 
town  were  to  be  taken  for  the  king's  use  (for  which  the  owners 
Avere  to  receive  bills),  Colonel  Legras,  Major  J}osseron,  and 
others  had  buried  the  greatest  part  of  their  powder  and  ball. 
'J'his  was  immediately  produced,  and  we  found  ourselves  well 
supplied  by  those  gentlemen. 

"  The  Tobacco's  son,  being  in  town  with  a  number  of  war- 
riors, immediately  mustered  them,  and  let  us  know  that  he 
uished  to  join  us,  saying  that  by  the  morning  he  would  have 
a  hundred  men.  He  received  for  answer  that  we  thanked  him 
for  his  friendly  disposition  ;  and,  as  we  were  sufficiently  strong 
ourselves,  we  wished  him  to  desist,  and  that  we  would  counsel 
on  the  subject  in  the  morning ;  and,  as  we  knew  that  there 
were  a  number  of  Indians  in  and  near  the  town  that  were  our 


enemies,  some  cotifiision  mi^ht  happen  if  our  men  should  mix. 
in  the  dark,  but  Ijoped  that  we  mi;;ht  he  f.ivored  with  his 
counsel  and  company  during  the  nij^ht,  which  was  agreeable 
to  him. 

"The  garrison  was  soop  cf)mpletely  surrounded,  and  the 
firing  continued  without  intermission  (except  about  tifteeii 
minutes  a  little  before  day)  ujitil  about  nine  o'clock  the  fol 
lowing  morning.  It  was  kept  up  by  the  whole  of  the  troops. 
joined  by  a  few  of  the  ycnuig  men  of  the  town,  who  got  per- 
mission, except  fifty  men  kept  as  a  reserve.  ...  1  had  ni.ide 
myself  fully  accpiainted  with  the  situation  of  the  fort  and 
t(jwn  and  the  i)arts  relative  to  ea.h  The  cannon  of  the  gar- 
rison was  on  the  upper  floors  of  si  ,ig  blockhouses  at  each 
angle  of  the  fort,  eleven  feet  above  tUe  surface,  and  the  ports 
so  badly  cut  that  many  of  our  troops  lay  under  the  tiic  of 
them  within  twenty  or  thirty  y;  .s  of  ihe  w  ,;ls.  'I'hey  did  no 
damage,  except  to  the  buildings  of  t'  <-'  town,  some  of  which 
hev  much  shatteierl ;  and  their  nnisketrv,  in  the  dark,  em- 
ployed  against  woodsm  m  covered  In  houses,  palings,  ditches, 
the  banks  of  the  river,  etc.,  was  but  of  Mttle  avail,  and  did  no 
injury  to  us  e.xcept  wounding  a  man  or  two.  .>  >^  we  could  not 
afford  to  lose  men,  great  care  wa;i  taken  to  preserve  mem  suf- 
ficiently covered,  and  to  keep  up  a  hot  fire  in  order  to  intimi- 
date the  enemy  as  well  as  to  destroy  them.  The  embrasures- 
of  their  cannon  were  frequently  shut,  for  our  riflemen,  fuiding 
the  true  direction  of  them,  would  pour  in  such  voileys  when 
they  were  opened  that  the  men  could  not  stand  to  the  guns. 
Seven  or  eight  of  them  in  a  short  time  got  cut  down.  Our 
troops  would  frequently  abuse  the  enemy,  in  order  to  aggra- 
vate them  to  open  their  ports  and  tire  their  cannon,  that  they 
might  have  the  pleasure  of  cutting  them  down  with  their 
rifles,  fifty  of  which,  perhaps,  would  be  levelled  the  moment 
the  port  fiew  open ;  and  I  believe  that,  if  they  had  stood  at 
their  artillery,  the  greater  part  of  them  would  have  been  de- 
stroyed in  the  course  of  the  night,  as  the  greater  part  of  our 
men  lay  within  thirty  yards  of  the  walls,  and  in  a  few  hours 
were  covered  equally  to  those  within  the  walls,  and  much  nio'c 
experienced  in  that  mode  of  fighting.  .  .  .  Sometimes  an 
irregular  fire,  as  hot  as  possible,  was  kept  up  from  different 
directions  for  a  few  min.iles,  and  then  only  a  continual  scatter- 
ing fire  at  the  ports  as  usual ;  and  a  greai.  noise  and  laughter 
immediately  commenced  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  by  the 
reserved  parties,  as  if  they  had  only  fired  on  the  fort  a  few 
minutes  for  amusement,  and  as  if  those  continually  firing  at  the 


lO 


fort  were  only  rej:;ularly  relieved.  Conduct  similar  to  this  kepi 
the  garrison  constantly  alarmed,  They  did  not  know  what 
Dioiiient  they  ini^ht  he  stormed  or  [hlown  up?],  as  they  could 
])lainly  discover  that  we  liad  Hunjr  up  some  entrenchments 
across  the  streets,  and  appeared  tf)  be  frecpiently  very  hiis\ 
under  the  hank  of  the  ri\er,  which  was  within  thirty  feet 
of  the  walls.  'J'he  situation  of  the  magazine  we  knew  well. 
Captain  IJowman  began  some  works  in  order  to  blow  it  up,  in 
case  our  nrtillerv  should  arri\e  ;  but,  as  we  knew  that  we  were 
daily  liable  to  be  overpowered  by  the  ninnerous  bands  of  Ind 
ians  on  the  river,  in  case  tiiey  had  again  joined  the  enemy  (the 
certainty  of  which  we  were  unacciuainted  with),  we  resolved 
to  lose  no  lime,  but  t*")  get  the  fort  in  oiu'  possession  as  soon 
as  possible.  If  the  vessel  did  not  arrive  before  the  ensuing 
night,  we  resolved  to  undermine  the  fort,  and  fixed  on  the 
.spot  and  i)lan  of  executing  this  work,  which  we  intended  to 
connnence  the  next  dav. 

"ihe  Indians  of  different  tribes  that  were  inimical  had  left 
the  town  and  neighborhood.  Captain  Lamotte  continued  to 
ho\er  about  it,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  make  his  way  good  into 
the  fort.  Parties  at'empted  in  vain  to  surprise  him.  A  few 
of  his  party  were  tuken,  one  of  which  was  Maisonville,  a 
famous  Indian  parti.-,an.  Two  lads  that  captured  him  tied 
him  to  a  post  in  the  street,  and  fought  from  behind  him  as  a 
breastwork,  supposing  that  the  enemy  would  not  lire  at  them 
for  fear  of  killing  him,  as  he  would  alarm  them  by  his  voice, 
'j'he  lads  were  ordered,  bv  an  officer  who  discovered  them  at 
their  amusement,  to  untie  their  prisoner,  and  take  him  off  to 
the  guard,  which  they  did,  but  were  so  inhuman  as  to  take  part 
(if  his  scalp  on  the  way.  Tliere  happened  to  him  no  other 
damage.  As  almost  the  whole  of  the  persons  who  were  most 
active  in  the  department  of  Detroit  were  either  in  the  fort  or 
Avith  Captain  I.amotte,  I  got  e.vtremely  uneasy  for  fear  that 
he  woukl  not  fall  into  our  power,  knowing  that  he  would  go 
off.  if  he  could  not  get  into  the  fort  in  the  course  of  the  night. 
I'inding  that,  without  some  unforeseen  accident,  the  fort  must 
inevitably  be  ours,  and  that  a  re-enforcement  of  twenty  men. 
although  considerable  to  them,  would  not  be  of  great  moment 
to  us  in  the  present  situation  of  affairs,  and  knowing  that  we 
had  weakened  them  by  killing  or  wounding  many  of  their 
gunners,  after  some  deliberation,  we  concluded  to  risk  the  re-en- 
forcement in  preference  of  his  going  again  among  the  Indians. 
Tiie  garrison  had  at  least  a  month'.s  provisions;  and,  if  they 
could  hold  out,  in  the  course  of   that  time  he   might   do  us 


TSSS!XSzSSSSi 


1 1 


1(1 


thai 

liust 
hen. 


Iheir 
b-en 
'.ns. 
thev 


much  damage.  A  little  before  day  the  troops  were  withdrawn 
from  their  po.sitions  about  the  fort,  e.xcejit  a  few  parties  of 
observation,  and  the  tiring  totally  ceased.  ( )rders  were  given, 
in  case  of  Lairotte's  approach,  not  to  alarm  or  tire  on  him 
without  a  certainly  of  killing  (jr  taking  the  whole.  In  less 
than  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  he  passed  within  ten  feet  of  an 
officer  and  a  part)'  that  lay  concealed.  Ladders  were  tlung 
over  to  them  ;  and,  as  they  mounted  them,  oui"  party  shouted. 
Many  of  them  fell  from  the  top  oi  the  walls. —  some  within, 
and  others  l)ack  ;  but,  as  they  were  not  tired  on,  they  all  got 
(Acr,  much  to  the  joy  of  their  friends.  ISut.  on  considering 
the  matter,  they  must  have  been  convinced  that  it  was  a 
scheme  of  ours  to  let  them  in,  and  that  we  were  so  strong  as 
to  care  but  little  about  them  or  the  manner  of  their  getting 
into  the  garrison.  .  .  .  I'he  firing  immediately  commenced 
on  both  sides  with  dc^uble  vigor;  and  1  believe  that  more  noise 
could  not  liave  been  made  by  the  same  number  of  men.  'Their 
shouts  could  not  be  heard  for  the  firearms  ;  but  a  continual 
blaze  was  kept  around  the  garrison,  without  much  being  done, 
until  about  daybreak,  when  our  troops  were  drawn  off  to  posts 
jirepared  for  them,  about  si.xty  or  seventy  yards  from  the  fort. 
A  loophole  then  could  scarcely  be  darkened  but  a  ritle-ball 
would  pass  through  it.  'l"o  have  stood  to  their  cannon  would 
have  destroyed  their  men,  without  a  jMobability  of  doing  much 
service.  Our  situation  was  nearlv  similar.  It  would  have  been 
imprudent  in  either  party  to  have  wasted  their  men,  without 
some  decisive  stroke  required  it. 

*'i"hus  the  attack  continued  until  about  nine  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  tiie  24th.  Learning  that  the  two  prisoners  they 
had  brought  in  the  day  before  had  a  considerable  number  of 
letters  with  them,  I  supposed  it  an  express  that  we  expected 
about  this  time,  which  I  knew  to  be  of  the  greatest  moment 
to  us,  as  we  had  not  received  one  since  our  arrival  in  the 
country;  and.  not  being  fully  accpiainted  with  the  character 
of  our  enemy,  we  were  doubtful  that  those  papers  might  be 
destroyed,  to  prevent  which  I  sent  a  Hag  [with  a  letter]  de- 
manding the  garrison." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  which  was  addressed 
by  Colonel  Clark  to  Lieutenant-governor  Hamilton  on  this 
occasion  :  — 

''  Sir, —  In  order  to  save  yourself  from  the  impending  storm 
that  now  threatens  vou.  I  order  vou  immediatelv  to  surr'^rder 


13 


yourself,  with  all  your  garrison,  stores,  etc.  F'or,  if  I  am 
obliged  to  storm,  you  may  depend  on  such  treatment  as  is 
justly  due  to  a  murderer,  lieware  of  destroying  stores  of  any 
kind  or  any  papers  or  letters  that  are  in  your  possession,  or 
hurting  one  house  in  town  ;  for,  by  heavens  !  if  you  do,  there 
shall  be  no  mercy  shown  you. 

"(Signed)  G.    R.    CLARK.' 

The  British  commandant  immediately  returned  the  following 
answer :  — 

"Lieutenant-governor  Hamilton  begs  leave  to  acquaint 
Colonel  Clark  that  he  and  his  garrison  are  not  disposed  to 
be  awed  into  any  action  unworthy  British  subjects." 

"The  firing  then,"  says  Clark,  "commenced  warmly  for  ,i 
considerable  time ;  and  we  were  obliged  to  be  careful  in  pre- 
venting our  men  from  exposing  themselves  too  much,  as  they 
were  now  much  animated,  having  been  refreshed  during  the 
flag.  They  frequently  mentioned  their  wishes  to  storm  the 
place,  and  put  an  end  to  the  business  at  once.  .  .  .  The  firing 
was  heavy  through  every  crack  that  could  be  discovered  in 
any  part  of  the  fort.  Several  of  the  garrison  got  woi.ndtd. 
and  no  possibility  of  standing  near  the  embrasures.  Toward 
the  evening  a  flag  appeared  with  the  following  proposals :  — 

"'Lieutenant-governor  Hamilton  proposes  to  Colonel  Clark 
a  truce  for  three  days,  during  which  time  he  promises  there 
shall  be  no  defensive  works  carried  on  in  the  garrison,  on  con- 
dition that  Colonel  Clark  shall  observe,  on  his  part,  a  like 
cessation  of  any  defensive  work, —  that  is,  he  wishes  to  confer 
with  Colonel  Clark  as  soon  as  can  be,  and  promises  that  what 
ever  may  pass  between  them  two  and  another  person  mutuall\ 
agreed  upon  to  be  present  shall  remain  secret  till  matters  be 
finished,  as  he  wishes  that,  whatever  the  result  of  the  confer 
ence  may  be,  it  may  tend  to  the  honor  and  credit  of  each  part\ . 
If  Colonel  Clark  makes  a  difficulty  of  coming  into  the  fort. 
Lieutenant-governor  Hamilton  will  speak  to  him  by  the  gate. 


" '  (Signed) 
"'24TH  Fehruarv,  1779.' 


HEXRY    HAMILTON 


"  I  was  at  a  great  loss  to  conceive  what  reason  Lieutenant 
governor  Hamilton  could  have  for  wishing  a  truce   of   three 
days  on  such  terms  as  he  proposed.     Numbers  said  it  was  a 


13 

scheme  to  get  me  into  their  possession.  I  had  a  different 
opinion  and  no  idea  of  his  possessing  such  sentiments,  as  an 
act  of  that  kind  would  infallibly  ruin  him.  Although  we  had 
the  greatest  reason  to  expect  a  re-enforcement  in  less  than  three 
days,  that  would  at  once  put  an  end  to  the  siege,  I  yet  did  not 
think  it  prudent  to  agree  to  the  proposals,  and  sent  the  follow- 
ing answer :  — 

"'Colonel  Clark's  compliments  to  Lieutenant-governor  Ham- 
ilton, and  begs  leave  to  inform  him  that  he  will  not  agree  to 
any  terms  other  than  Mr.  Hamilton's  surrendering  himself  and 
garrison  prisoners  at  discretion.  If  Mr.  Hamilton  is  desirous 
of  a  conference  with  Colonel  Clark,  he  will  meet  him  at  the 
church  with  Captain  Helm. 

'"(Signed)  0.  R.  C. 

'"Febri'ary  24TH,  1779.' 


)n- 

;i' 

tei 

at- 

llv 
he 
■et" 
rtv- 


"We  met  at  the  church,  about  eighty  yards  from  the  fort. 
Lieutenant-governor  Hamilton,  Major  Hay,  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs,  Captain  Helm,  their  prisoner.  Major  Bowman, 
and  myself.  The  conference  began.  Hamilton  produced  terms 
of  capitulation,  signed,  that  contained  various  articles,  one  (jf 
which  was  that  the  garrison  should  be  surrendered  on  their 
being  permitted  to  go  to  Pensacola  on  parole.  After  deliber- 
ating on  every  article,  I  rejected  the  whole.  He  then  wished 
that  I  would  make  some  proposition.  I  told  him  that  I  had 
no  other  to  make  than  what  I  had  already  made, —  that  of  his 
surrendering  as  prisoners  at  discretion.  I  said  that  his  troops 
had  behaved  with  spirit ;  that  they  could  not  suppose  that  they 
would  be  worse  treated  in  consequence  of  it ;  that,  if  he  chose 
to  comply  with  the  demand,  though  hard,  perhaps  the  sooner 
the  better ;  that  it  was  in  vain  to  make  any  proposition  to  me : 
that  he,  by  this  time,  must  be  sensible  that  the  garrison 
would  fall;  that  both  of  us  must  [view?]  all  blood  spilt  for 
the  future  by  the  garrison  as  murder ;  that  my  troops  were 
already  impatient,  and  called  aloud  for  permission  to  tear  down 
and  storm  the  fort.  If  such  a  step  was  taken,  many,  of  course, 
would  be  cut  down ;  and  the  result  of  an  enraged  body  of 
woodsmen  breaking  in  must  be  obvious  to  him.  It  would  be 
out  of  the  power  of  an  American  officer  to  save  a  single  man. 
Various  altercation  took  place  for  a  considerable  time.  Cap- 
•tain  Helm  attempted  to  moderate  our  fixed  determination. 
I  told  him  he  was  a  British  prisoner ;  and  it  was   doubtful 


14 


wlit'ther  or  ikjI  he  could,  with  pro])riety.  speak  on  the  subject. 
Hamilton  tlien  said  that  Captain  Helm  was  from  that  moment 
liberated,  and  mit^ht  use  his  pleasure.  1  informed  the  Captain 
that  1  would  not  receive  him  on  such  terms;  that  he  must 
return  to  the  garrison,  and  await  his  fate.  J  then  told  Lieu- 
tenant-governor Hamilton  that  iiostilities  should  not  commence 
until  live  minutes  after  the  drums  gave  the  alarm.  We  tcjok 
our  leave,  and  parted  but  a  few  steps,  when  Hamilton  stopped, 
and  i^olitely  asked  me  if  I  would  be  so  kind  as  to  give  him  my 
reasons  for  refusing  the  garrison  any  other  terms  than  those 
1  had  offered,  I  told  hhn  I  had  no  objections  in  giving  him 
my  real  reasons,  which  were  sim|)ly  these:  that  I  knew  the 
greater  part  of  the  principal  Indian  jxirtisans  of  Detroit  were 
with  him:  that  I  wanted  an  excuse  to  i)ut  them  to  deatii  or 
otherwise  treat  them  as  I  thougiit  proper;  that  the  cries  of 
the  widows  and  the  fatherless  on  the  frontiers,  which  they  had 
occasioned,  now  recpiired  their  blood  from  my  hand;  and  that 
I  did  not  choose  to  be  so  timorous  as  to  disobey  the  absolute 
connnands  of  their  authority,  wiiich  1  looked  upon  to  be  next 
to  divine:  that  1  would  rather  lose  fifty  men  than  not  to  em- 
power myself  to  execute  this  piece  of  business  with  propriet}- : 
that,  if  he  chose  to  risk  the  massacre  of  his  garrison  for  their 
sakes,  it  was  liis  own  pleasure;  and  that  I  might,  perhajjs,  take 
it  into  mv  head  to  send  for  some  of  those  widows  to  see  it 
executed.  Major  Hay  paying  great  attention,  i  had  observed 
a  kind  of  distrust  in  his  ccnmtenance,  which  in  a  great  measure 
intluenced  my  conversation  during  this  lime.  On  my  conclud- 
ing, '  Pray,  sir,'  said  he.  'who  is  it  that  you  call  Indian  parti 
sans?'  '.Sir.'  I  replied,  'I  take  Major  Hay  to  be  one  of  the 
princi]5al.'  I  never  saw  a  man  in  the  moment  of  execution  so 
struck  as  he  appeared  to  be. —  pale  and  trembling,  scarcely  able 
to  stand.  llamilton  l)lushed,  and,  I  observed,  was  much 
affected  at  his  behavior.  Major  IJowman's  countenance  suffi- 
ciently ex])lained  his  disdain  for  the  one  and  his  sorrow  for  the 
other.  .  .  ,  .Some  moments  elapsed  without  a  word  pass- 
ing on  either  side.  From  that  moment  my  resolutions  changed 
respecting  Hamilton's  situation.  I  told  him  that  we  would 
return  to  our  respecti\e  posts;  that  I  would  reconsider  the 
matter,  and  let  him  know  the  result.  No  offensive  measures 
should  be  taken  in  the  meantime.  Agreed  to  ;  and  we  parted. 
What  had  passed  being  made  known  to  our  ofificers,  it  was 
agreed  that  we  should  moderate  our  resolutions." 

In   the   course   of  the  afternoon  of   the  24th  the  following 
articles  were  signed,  and  the  ^-arrison  capitulated:  — 


uig 


The 
Clark  i 
Kovolii 
btcaust 


7i 


••  I.  Lieutenant-governor  Ilaniilton  enj^ages  to  deliver  up 
to  ('(jl(jnel  ('lark  Fort  Sackvillc,  as  it  is  at  present,  with  all 
the  stores,  etc. 

"11.  The  {garrison  are  to  deliver  themselves  as  -prisoners  of 
war,  and  march  out  with  their  arms  and  accoutermcnts,  etc. 

'"111.  'I'he  ij;arrison  to  be  delivered  up  at  ten  o'clock 
to-morrow. 

■•1\'.  Three  days  time  to  l)e  allowed  the  garrison  to  settle 
their  accounts  with  the  inhabitants  and  traders  of  ihix  jjlace. 

•■  \'.  The  officers  of  the  garrison  t(-»  be  allowed  their  neces- 
sary baggage,  etc. 

•■  Signed  at  i'osl  .St.  \'incent  [X'incennes]   24th  of   {"cbruary, 

■•  .Vgreed  for  the  following  reasons  :  the  remoteness  iroiu 
succor;  the  state  and  cpiantity  of  proxisions,  etc.;  unanimity 
of  otticers  and  men  in  its  expediency;  the  honorable  terms 
alliiwctl;    and.   lastly,  the  contidence  in  a  generous  enemx'. 

••(Signed)  HKNR\'    HAMILTON, 

^^  Lieut-i:;ov.  and  Suptrinteiuienty 

'•The  business  being  now  nearly  at  an  end,  troops  were 
posted  in  several  strong  houses  around  the  garrison  and 
l)atroled  during  the  night  to  prevent  any  deception  that  migiit 
]je  attempted.  'Jhe  remainder  on  duty  lay  on  their  arms,  and 
for  the  first  time  for  many  days  past  got  some  rest.  .  .  .  Dur- 
ing the  siege,  I  got  only  one  man  wounded.  Not  being  able 
to  lose  many.  I  made  them  secure  themselves  well.  Seven 
were  badly  wounded  in  the  fort  through  ports.  .  .  .  Almost 
t\ery  man  had  conceived  a  favorable  opinion  of  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Hamilton, —  1  believe  what  affected  mvself  made 
some  impression  on  the  whole;  and  I  was  liappy  to  find  that 
he  never  deviated,  while  he  stayed  with  us,  from  that  dignity 
of  conduct  that  became  an  officer  in  his  situaticjn.  'J'hc  morn- 
ing of  the  25th  approaching,  arrangements  were  made  for 
receiving  the  garrison  [which  consisted  of  seventy-nine  men], 
and  about  ten  o'clock  it  was  delivered  in  form;  and  every- 
thing was  immediately  arranged  to  the  best  ad\antage." 


The  conquest  of  the  country  north  of  the  Ohio  River  by  George  Rogers 
Clark  in  1778-9  was  one  of  the  most  heroic  episodes  of  the  period  of  the 
Revolution,  and  one  of  the  most  imijortant  in  its  consequences.  It  was 
because,  owing   to  this   conquest,  the   country  between  the  Ohio  and   the 


lO 


Mississippi  was  actually  held  bjr  us,  under  military  and  civil  rule,  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  that  it  was  possible  for  us  to  secure,  in  the  Treaty  of  Paris, 
the  concession  of  the  Mississippi  instead  of  the  Ohio  as  our  western 
boundary.  It  has  been  properly  said  that,  "with  respect  to  the  magnitude 
of  its  design,  the  valor  and  perseverance  with  which  it  was  carried  out,  and 
the  momentous  results  which  were  produced  by  it,  Clark's  expedition  stands 
without  a  parallel  in  the  early  annals  of  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi." 

Clark  was  a  young  Virginian  who  had  settled  in  Kentucky  in  1775,  had 
secured  the  organization  of  Kentucky  as  a  county  of  Virginia,  and  been  the 
leader  in  the  defence  of  the  frontier.  The  Kentucky  and  Illinois  country 
suffered  greatly  during  the  early  years  of  the  war  from  Indian  depredations. 
Clark  saw  clearly  that  the  sources  of  these  depredations  were  the  British 
posts  of  Detroit,  Vincennes  on  the  Wabash,  and  Kaskaskia  on  the  Missis- 
sippi ;  and  he  went  to  Virginia  and  laid  before  Patrick  Henry,  then  Gover- 
nor of  Virginia,  a  scheme  for  the  conquest  of  the  North-west,  the  boldness 
of  which  at  once  enlisted  the  interest  and  co-operation  of  Henry,  Jefferson, 
and  other  influential  men.  With  his  little  army  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  he  surprised  and  captured  Kaskaskia  on  the  night  of  July  4,  177S,  did 
much  by  wise  diplomjcy  to  attach  the  French  and  Indians  to  the  American 
cause,  and  in  February,  1779,  marched  upon  Vincennes.  The  hardships  of 
that  march  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  miles  were  almost  incredible.  In 
that  great  era  of  brave  deeds  there  was  no  braver  deed  than  this.  A  por- 
tion of  Clark's  own  account  of  the  march  and  the  capture  of  Vincennes, 
taken  from  hi>j  Memoirs,  composed  at  the  special  request  of  Jefferson  and 
Madison,  is  given  in  the  present  leaflet.  The  weakness  of  his  force  alone 
prevented  Clark  from  moving  on  Detroit.  The  county  of  Illinois  was 
established  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia,  covering  all  the  territory; 
and  this  remained  under  the  actual  control  of  Virginia  at  the  close  of  the 
war  and  when  the  Treaty  of  Paris  was  under  consideration.  "The  arms  of 
Clark  had  settled  the  question  of  possession  and  civil  as  well  as  military 
rule  of  this  great  territory,  which  now  holds  so  many  millions  of  people. 
These  prominent  facts  were  before  the  British  minister  and  before  the 
world.  He  could  not  say  that  this  part  of  the  land  was  in  the  power  of 
England  any  more  than  Virginia  herself  was  after  the  battle  of  Yorktown, 
and  he  was  too  accurate  a  jurist  to  yield  to  any  claim  of  Spain  or  to  hear 
the  objections  of  France." 

The  last  years  of  this  great  man's  life  were  spent  in  solitude  and  poverty 
near  Louisville.  He  felt  keenly  the  ingratitude  of  the  republic ;  and,  when 
late  in  his  life  the  State  of  Virginia  sent  him  a  sword,  he  exclaimed  to  the 
committee :  "  When  Virginia  needed  a  sword,  I  gave  her  one.  She  sends 
me  now  a  toy.  I  want  bread ! "  —  thrust  the  sword  into  the  ground,  and 
broke  it  with  his  crutch. 

John  Reynolds  called  George  Rogers  Clark  "  the  Washington  of  the 
West,"  and  John  Randolph  styled  him  "  the  Hannibal  of  the  West."  See 
chapter  entitled  "The  itannibal  of  the  West,"  in  Dunn's  Indiana,  in  the 
"American  Commonwealths"  series,  for  the  best  brief  account  of  Clark's 
exploits.  W.  F.  Poole's  chapter  on  "The  West,"  in  the  sixth  volume  of  thf' 
Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,  contains  an  invaluable  mass 
of  material  concerning  Clark  and  his  work.  A  good  biography  of  Clark 
is  a  desideratum.  The  memoirs,  from  which  the  present  leaflet  is  taken, 
are  printed  in  Dillon's  History  of  Indiana.  A  letter  from  Clark  to  George 
Mason,  covering  his  Vincennes  campaign,  has  been  published  under  the  title 
of  Clark's  Campaign  in  the  Illinois  (Cincinnati,  1869). 


